Pump



Jan. 13, 1959 P. I. NAGLE 2,868,134

PUMP

Filed May 27, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I l I I I I I I I I IN V EN TOR.

MM/ @MrM aw Jan. 13, 1959 P.-I. NAGLE 2,868,134

PUMP Filed May 27, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 INVENTOk- PeIZyZ/VZZgZS, BY

v PUMP Perry I. Nagle, Chicago Heights, Ill.

Application May 27, 1952, Serial No. 290,143

4 Claims. (Cl. 103-103) The present invention relates to fluid impellingdevices and more in particular to fluid impelling devices of thevertical type, such as centrifugal pumps for pumping water or otherliquid containing large amounts of sand, clay, etc. from pits, sumps andthe like.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a novelcentrifugal pump of the vertical type of simplified and compactconstruction wherein the various elements thereof are readily fabricatedand assembled in operative association with one another with ease andfacility.

One of the objects within the purview of the present invention is toprovide a novel centrifugal pump assembly of the type designatedhereiuabove which may be readily mounted within a dry sump or pit forpumping a liquid medium and which is of such construction that theelectric motor or other driving means may be readily mounted at anydesired distance above the assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novelcentrifugal pump of the vertical type which is so constructed andarranged that there are no packing glands, bearings or the like incontact with the liquid material being pumped which is particularlyadvantageous in a pump of this type where water or other liquidscontaining large amounts of sand, clay, etc. is being pumped.

As a further object, the present invention contemplates a novelcentrifugal pump assembly of the general type immediately hereinabovereferred to and, although being provided with a packing gland for thepower shaft, is so constructed that said packing gland is in contactwith the liquid material only when the pump is inoperative.

More particularly, the invention contemplates a centrifugal pumpassembly wherein the power shaft therefor is journaled in bearingsdisposed above the pump housing and extends downwardly therefrom througha sleeve or hollow member connected to the housing and which has itsinterior communicating with the interior of the im- Y peller housingwhereby the liquid material being pumped may attain the approximatelevel of the liquid level in a sump from which is it being pumped, thuseliminating a packing gland for the shaft at the pump casing with theattendant wear and scarring which would take place where the liquidmaterial contains substantial amounts of sand, clay, etc.

The invention further contemplates a novel pump structure as immediatelyhereinabove set forth incorporating a packing gland, however, at theupper end of the sleeve to prevent discharge of liquid materialtherefrom in those instances where the liquid level in the sump risesabove the top of the sleeve, such assembly also being provided with avent conduit extending above the increased liquid level. In suchstructure, the liquid level within the sleeve conforming substantiallyto the liquid level in the sump ..is below the packing gland duringnormal operation of United States Patent @z 12 in the usual manner.

power shaft of the pump and which is provided with means for adjustablysupporting the pump housing and its appurtenances.

The present invention further contemplates a novel centrifugal pump ofthe vertical type having a pump housing and its appurtenances supportedupon a suitable foundation or support and which adjustably supports abearing housing for the power shaft for said pump.

Other objects, features, capabilities and advantages are comprehended bythe invention, as will later appear and as are inherently possessedthereby.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a pump embodying one formof the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of another form of the invention,having parts shown in vertical cross-section to disclose certain of thestructure more in detail;

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation of another embodiment of thepresent invention; and,

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the pump shown in Figure 3 of thedrawings and taken in the plane represented by line 44 of that figure.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings and particularly to theembodiment shown in Figure 1, there is disclosed a pump assemblygenerally referred to by the reference numeral 2, which comprises acentrifugal pump 4- and bearing stand 6 for rotatably supporting thepower shaft 8 of the pump.

The centrifugal pump 4 is formed with a casing 10 within which isdisposed an impeller 12 connected to the lower end of the power shaft 8.The casing 10 is formed with an opening 13 closed by the plate 14provided with the intake 16 communicating with the eye of the impellerThe casing 10 is also formed with a tangential outlet (not disclosed) inaccordance with common practice in the art. The plate 14 is held inplace by a ring 18 adapted to engage the shouldered flanges 20 of thecasing 10 by means of a plurality of set screws or bolts 22. The plate14 at the inlet end is provided with a flange fitting 24 adapted to besecured by bolts or any other desired means to the flange fitting 26 ofa conduit 28 which is connected to the bottom 30 of a sump 34 throughthe flange fitting 32.

The bearing stand 6 is adapted to be secured to any suitable supportingmedium through bolts such as 36 whereby the shaft 8 is properly alignedwith respect to the impeller 12. The said bearing stand is furtherprovided with a bearing housing 38 having end closure members 40 and 42screw threaded into the bearing housing 38 and held in place by thebearing studs 44. The end closure members 40 and 42 provide a suitablerecess for the radial and thrust bearings 46 and 48, respectively, forthe shaft 8 which extends downwardly through the opening 50 which isclosed by a thrust seal 52.

The bearing stand is further provided with the laterally arrangedbearing elements 54 and 56 having axially arranged bores substantiallyparallel with theshaft 8 adapted to receive struts 58 and 60,respectively, which have their lower ends connected to the casing 10, asat 59 and 61. The struts 58 and 60 are axially adjustable for adjustingthe centrifugal pump 4 with respect to the bearing stand through themedium of the jack screws-62 and 64, respectively. The jack screws '62and 64 are threadedly mounted in the ends of struts 58 and 60 and extendthrough the laterally extending ears 66 and 68 of housing 33, the samebeing locked in any adjusted positions by means of the lock nuts 70. Thestruts 58 and 60 are securely locked in any of their adjusted positionsby means of the clamp bolts 72 and 74, each having a cam surface adaptedto engage the said struts for clamping the same in position.

In the present embodiment, the upper end of the power shaft 8 isprovided with a key slot 76 for coupling the power shaft to the shaft ofan electric motor or the like which may be mounted for operation at anydesired level above the .end of the power shaft 8. This makes a veryconvenient assembly for attachment to the drive shaft of the motor toaccommodate various operating conditions particularly where it isdesirable to mount the pump within a dry pit or sump for pumping liquidfrom a sump such as 34 or the like.

The pump disclosed in Figure l is particularly adapted for use inpumping liquid material such as dense media used in washing coal and forore segregation. In such instances the liquid is laden with particles ofabrasive character which when pumped by the usual pump mechanism causesconsiderable damage to bearings, packing glands and the like. It is oneof the objects of the present invention to provide a structure in whichthe dense media or similar liquid material being pumped from the sump 34does not come in contact with any bearings or packing gland structure,and accordingly the life of a pump made in accordance with the presentdisclosure'far exceeds any conventional pump design.

In order to accomplish such results, the shaft 8 adjacent its connectionto the impeller 12 extends through an opening 76 in the uppersubstantially horizontally disposed wall 78 of the casing and no attemptis made to provide a fluid tight joint at that point. Surrounding theopening 76 is an upstanding flange or wall 80 to which is connected theupwardly extending sleeve or hollow member 82 which extends upwardly toa point above the normal liquid level 84 of the material being pumpedfrom the sump 34. It will, therefore, be seen that there isintercommunication between the interior of the sleeve or hollow member82 and the chamber within the pump casing 10 through the opening 76 sothat during normal operation of the pump the liquid material reaches alevel within the hollow member 82 substantially equal to the liquidlevel 84 in the sump 34. While it is not absolutely necessary to provideany protective covering for'the open end of the sleeve or hollow member82, nevertheless the present construction contemplates a flinger 86which is secured in any desired manner to the power shaft 8 as by way ofa set screw or the like in the spaced relation to the upper end of thehollow member 82. This flinger is adapted to deflect any grease orlubricant which may seep through the thrust seal 50 and deflects anymaterial which might tend to escape from the upper end of the hollowmember 82 in the event that there is any substantial variation in theliquid level 84 in the sump.

A pump made in accordance with the disclosure of Figure l incorporatesall of the desired characteristics as hereinabove enumerated and isparticularly adapted for use in connection with the pumping of densemedia and the like.

Referring to the modification as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, thesame embodies in substance the structure of Figure 1 of the drawings,and accordingly like reference numerals have been applied thereto todesignate similar parts found in the structure of Figure 1.

The modification shown in Figure 2, however, is constructed for usewhere the liquid level 84 of the sump 34 may vary from a plane below'theupper end of the sleeve or hollow member 88 which is associated with thepump casing 10 as hereinabove described in the same manner as the sleeve88. Such variations in the liquid level within the sump 34 may takeplace by virtue of the fact that during the operation of the pump thenormal level is at 84 Whereas back flow of the supply to sump 34 maycause the liquid level to rise to a height as indicated at 90 when thepump is rendered inoperative. Here again, however, the structuralprovision for the pump assembly is such that during operation of thepump under normal conditions, liquid material in the form of dense mediaor the like does not come in contact with any. Pack ng stand o ins- Shothe iqui level in the sump 34 rise, the liquid material may come incontact with mechanism to be described but under such conditions thepump is inoperative so that the same is not subjected to any materialwear.

In order to accomplish these results, the power shaft 8 adjacent theupper end of the sleeve or hollow member 88 is provided with a stufiinggland 92 seated on the inwardly disposed shoulder 94 of the sleeve 88,the same having a gland nut 96 adjustably positioned for assuring afluid tight joint between the-gland and the shaft through adjustablemechanism .98 connected to the depending ears 100 formed as a part ofthe bearing housing 38. This packing gland accordingly prevents leakagebetween the shaft 8 and the sleeve 88 at its upper end when the liquidlevel in the sump 34 rises above the upper end of the sleeve 88. Inorder to vent the sleeve 88 a vent conduit 102 is connected laterally ofthe sleeve 88 above the normal operating level 84 of the liquid materialin the sump 34, the same extending upwardly and above the expected upperlevel of the liquid material in the sump 34. Accordingly, should theliquid level rise to the point 90, the liquid material within theinterior of sleeve 88 would rise to substantially the same level in thevent conduit 102, yet when the liquid level recedes to the normaloperating level 34 the interior of the sleeve 88 is vented to permit theliquid level in the sleeve 88 to assume its normal relation to theliquid level in the sump 34.

Figure 3 discloses a further embodiment of the invention, the sameincluding a centrifugal pump 104 formed with a casing 106 conforming tothe casing 10 and having a plate 108 held in place by a ring 110 in thesame manner as disclosed in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

'This pump housing is provided with a pump stand 112 suitably secured toa foundation or support 114 by bolts 116 or the like. -The'inlet plate110 is connected to the flanged fittings 118 and 120 whereby liquidmaterial from the sump 122 isintroduced into the inlet of the pump uponoperation thereof. The casing 106 is further provided with thetangential outlet 124 for discharge of said liquid material.

As in the previously described embodiments, the present pump assemblycontemplates a bearing housing 126 having the laterally disposed bearingelements 128 and 130 adapted to slidably receive the struts 132 and 134,respectively, which are connected at one end to the casing 106 andextend upwardly therefrom. The said bearing housing 126 is slidably andadjustably positioned with respect to the pump 104 through the screwjack assembly 136 and 138 formed in accordance with the priordisclosure. Furthermore, the power shaft 140 is mounted in the bearinghousing 126 as previously disclosed and extends downwardly and into a.bearing element 142 extending upwardly from the pump housing 106. Afluid tight joint between the shaft 140 and the bearing 142 is formedadjacent the upper end of the bearing 142 by means of the packing gland144 adjustable through the mechanism 146 in the same manner as disclosedin Figure 2 of the drawing.

In the present illustrative embodiment of the invention, the power shaft140 may be driven by a motor shaft through a suitable coupling wherebythe motor may be mounted in any desired position above the pumpassembly. In the present modification, however, the entire bearinghousing 126 and its appurtenances is supported entirely through thestruts 132 and 134 which in turn are securely clamped in operativerelation to the bearing housing 126 through the clamp bolts 147 and 148.It will thus be seen that the entire weight of the bearing assemblytogether with the centrifugal pump is supported through the stand 112 onthe foundation or support 114, yet the arrangement of the variouselements is such that ready adjustment of the bearing assembly withrespect to the centrifugal pump may be readily and easily effected.

While I have herein described and upon the drawings shown illustrativeembodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited thereto but may comprehend other constructions,arrangements of parts, details and features without departing from thespirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fluid impelling device, the combination of a pump operable underan hydrostatic head determined by the normal operating liquid levelwithin a sump, said pump having a housing provided with an inletcommunicating with said sump and having an outlet for the discharge ofliquid material therefrom, an impeller mounted in said housing, saidhousing having a substantially horizontally-disposed top wall providedwith an opening therein, a power shaft secured to said impeller andextending upwardly through said opening, a hollow member having anopenupper end and being fluid-tight to a point above the normal liquidlevel within the sump, said member surrounding said shaft and beingconnected to said housing wall at its base end and extending upwardlyabove the normal liquid level within the sump, whereby the space betweensaid hollow member and the shaft is in communication with the interiorof said housing through said opening to permit the liquid materialtherein to seek the liquid level of said sump during operation of saidpump, a bearing stand for the pump disposed above said hollow member,means adjustably supporting the pump housing from the bearing stand,bearing supporting means supported by the hearing stand and locatedabove the hollow member, and bearings for the impeller shaft carried bysaid bearing supporting means.

2. A fluid impelling device according to claim 1 in which a flingerserving as a closure for said hollow member is secured to said powershaft in spaced relation to the upper end of said hollow member.

3. In a fluid impelling device, the combination of a pump operable underan hydrostatic head determined by the normal operating liquid levelwithin a sump, said pump having a housing provided with an inletcommunicating with said sump and having an outlet for the discharge ofliquid material therefrom, said housing being provided with asubstantially horizontally-disposed top wall havingan opening therein, ahollow member having an open upper end and being fluid-tight to a pointabove normal liquid level within the sump, said member being secured atits base end to said wall and extending upwardly above normal liquidlevel within members connecting said housing with said bearing stand,-

and means provided by the bearing stand for adjustably securing saidstrut members whereby to adjustably position said housing with respectto said bearing stand.

4. A fluid impelling device according to claim 3 in which a flingerserving as a closure for said hollow member is secured to said powershaft in spaced relation to the upper end of said hollow member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS829,017 Jordan Aug. 21, 1906 1,798,782 Brown Mar. 31, 1931 1,821,772Ruthman Sept. 1, 1931 2,019,143 La Bour Oct. 29, 1935 2,075,895 HarmonApr. 6, 1937 2,112,575 Richard Mar. 29, 1938 2,179,730 Ruthman Nov. 4,1939 2,181,973 Iasberg Dec. 5, 1939 2,245,866 McLachlan June 17, 19412,273,214 McConaghy Feb. 17, 1942 2,281,682 England May 5, 19422,309,670 Ruthman Feb. 2, 1943 2,448,717 Jeficock Sept. 7, 19482,504,140 Mill Apr. 18, 1950 2,536,638 Greene Jan. 2, 1951

